SWISS MISS II
The Airframe of a liquid fueled rocket During my second semester as a sophomore at SDSU, I took on the role as Airframe Subsection Leader of the Rocket Project. I was in charge of replacing the aluminum midsection of the rocket that attached the two tanks together, creating 3 new hatches, and fabricating a fairing.
The midsection was cut from an 8" diameter tube with a horizontal bandsaw. It was a great experience to take a few fellow members into the Aerospace Lab and use the machines. We gained a lot of valuable experience on how to produce accurate cuts and how to practice safety in the lab. The section was to be used to connect the two fuel tanks and in order to connect the new section to the tanks we had to create our own coupler. We simply cut another piece from the same 8" tube and then used a regular bandsaw to decrease the diameter so that it would fit inside the new section. Finally, the coupler was riveted inside the new tube and it was then ready to be used for the rocket.
A hatch was needed on the new section in order to access the valves between the two tanks. We used a dremel to cut out a hatch from the new section. The space between the hatch and the airframe was negligible and the lip that the hatch rested on was cut from scrap metal and riveted onto the new section. A simple hinge was used and it was riveted onto the new section and the door.
The purpose of the fairing was to aerodynamically house the external fuel lines and wiring. It was made on a custom mold that we made out of a cardboard tube that was of similar size to the rocket, a 2x2, and bondo. The mold needed to be lathered with turtle wax before laying up the fiberglass so that it could be easily removed from the mold. We then laid a fiberglass cloth then generously applied epoxy and resin. The entire club had their hands on this part of the rocket because it required several hands to produce an aerodynamic fairing.
I worked in conduction with the Payload Subjection Leader in order to make the rear area of the fairing transparent. We needed this because the fairing was housing two cameras, one parallel with the ground and another facing the motor. We did some research and came across a transparent glass that was easily bendable. It needed to be bendable in order to follow the shape of the end of the fairing. A section was then cut and removed from the fairing and the glass was carefully attached with epoxy and resin.
The entire fairing was placed on the rocket only moments before launch because we needed to access the wires to get things ready. The fairing was carefully placed over the pipes and wires and riveted on both ends. We then used an aerospace grade adhesive to secure the rest of the fairing.
Overall, it was a magnificent experience being the Airframe Subjection Lead. I gained a lot of hands on work, from power tools to different materials. But most importantly, I gained a lot of leadership experience working with other members throughout the production of Swiss Miss II.
The midsection was cut from an 8" diameter tube with a horizontal bandsaw. It was a great experience to take a few fellow members into the Aerospace Lab and use the machines. We gained a lot of valuable experience on how to produce accurate cuts and how to practice safety in the lab. The section was to be used to connect the two fuel tanks and in order to connect the new section to the tanks we had to create our own coupler. We simply cut another piece from the same 8" tube and then used a regular bandsaw to decrease the diameter so that it would fit inside the new section. Finally, the coupler was riveted inside the new tube and it was then ready to be used for the rocket.
A hatch was needed on the new section in order to access the valves between the two tanks. We used a dremel to cut out a hatch from the new section. The space between the hatch and the airframe was negligible and the lip that the hatch rested on was cut from scrap metal and riveted onto the new section. A simple hinge was used and it was riveted onto the new section and the door.
The purpose of the fairing was to aerodynamically house the external fuel lines and wiring. It was made on a custom mold that we made out of a cardboard tube that was of similar size to the rocket, a 2x2, and bondo. The mold needed to be lathered with turtle wax before laying up the fiberglass so that it could be easily removed from the mold. We then laid a fiberglass cloth then generously applied epoxy and resin. The entire club had their hands on this part of the rocket because it required several hands to produce an aerodynamic fairing.
I worked in conduction with the Payload Subjection Leader in order to make the rear area of the fairing transparent. We needed this because the fairing was housing two cameras, one parallel with the ground and another facing the motor. We did some research and came across a transparent glass that was easily bendable. It needed to be bendable in order to follow the shape of the end of the fairing. A section was then cut and removed from the fairing and the glass was carefully attached with epoxy and resin.
The entire fairing was placed on the rocket only moments before launch because we needed to access the wires to get things ready. The fairing was carefully placed over the pipes and wires and riveted on both ends. We then used an aerospace grade adhesive to secure the rest of the fairing.
Overall, it was a magnificent experience being the Airframe Subjection Lead. I gained a lot of hands on work, from power tools to different materials. But most importantly, I gained a lot of leadership experience working with other members throughout the production of Swiss Miss II.
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